Never Again

[R.Ph. 380]

4 and a half days without electricity, heat etc... Having to live at in-laws is fine but really bugs you when you have more important things to do. Well, next week, I will have at least a 5 kw generator with ample fuel supplies to weather(pun intended) the next emergency. Who ever heard of 14 inches of snow in Dallas/Fort Worth?

Bill

[Jaybm]

Can I offer a suggestion ...
My neighbors bought a generator after a similar experience as yours, gassed it up, ran it for awhile and shut it down.
A year later... another storm ... guess what ... the engine wouldn't start ! I offered to look at it and it still had the OLD gas in the tank. Cleaned out the gummed up carb, tank, new plugs, put in some fresh gas and it fired up on the first pull.
The morale of this story ... always empty the tank, run the engine dry before storing the generator for any length of time.

Heck ... this holds true for lawn mowers, trimmers, lawn tractors, etc.

The Rest Of The Story ... the neighbors moved, offered to give me the generator but I bought it instead for a very reasonable price. Crank it up at least once a year and never ever store it without running it dry.

Just my .02, Jaybm

[mudbug77]

what about adding a fuel stabilizer? or running a tank through it monthly while keeping it full so there's no need to aquire fresh fuel should a situation arise?

[trailblazer]

i'm under the impression that hi-test gas does not turn to varnish, sta-bill wpould be unnecessary.

trailblazer

[R.Ph. 380]

Thanks, keep the suggestions coming, going to stock up on non perishables also. Lots of good info in this forum. I'm culling carefully. I also agree with the running the engine dry, it's just that I can't remember if it's the gas or oil to leave out?

Bill

[Pokeman]

what about adding a fuel stabilizer? or running a tank through it monthly while keeping it full so there's no need to aquire fresh fuel should a situation arise?

X1000. forget running anything empty. Fuel stabilizer works, use it. every fall all my small engines get it. lawnmower, weed wacker, generator, 4 wheeler, chainsaw . Get a big bottle and use it.

[PHMadness]

i'm under the impression that hi-test gas does not turn to varnish, sta-bill wpould be unnecessary.

trailblazer

That would be a false impression.

[Mason]

All gas will turn bad.. I'm hear to tell you that includes "hi test".. Now Oregon being the "green" state that it is we have weird gas. They oxygenate the gasoline (susposta burn hotter/cleaner) and they add a lot of "corn oil". You cant buy pump gas with out it in there. That said our biggest problem this time of year, is customers bikes with "fall" gas that has already turned. Almost every bike has 91-92 octane "premium" fuel in it. I would say our gas out here has a shelf life of less then 100 days. Sta Bil is a good product. We sell it and it works great.

[mitchr]

All gas will turn bad.. I'm hear to tell you that includes "hi test".. Now Oregon being the "green" state that it is we have weird gas. They oxygenate the gasoline (susposta burn hotter/cleaner) and they add a lot of "corn oil". You cant buy pump gas with out it in there. That said our biggest problem this time of year, is customers bikes with "fall" gas that has already turned. Almost every bike has 91-92 octane "premium" fuel in it. I would say our gas out here has a shelf life of less then 100 days. Sta Bil is a good product. We sell it and it works great.

Problems being reported around here are regarding the ethanol blends. Too dry & especially hard on small engines with conventional carbureation systems. The John Deere mechanic recommended adding Marvel Mystery Oil to my gasoline, about 2 ozs per 2-1/2 Gal. of gasoline. So far, so good & no problems. We've noticed a couple of convenience stores with large signs "no ethanol" & they stay real busy.

[thunder9]

Sta-bil is a good product and I use it in all my small engines. However it will not keep gas good forever, after 9 mos I would buy fresh gas and add more sta-bil. imho.

[mudbug77]

I can't remember if it's the gas or oil to leave out?

oil can stay o.k. for a very long time. i just got a gift of an industrial compressor from a customer. it's been sitting in their warehouse since they moved in probably a decade ago, pulled the pulley covers off today and it turned over smooth as silk. oil looked like it was changed just prior to it's hibernation. saved the pump from freezing and added a few hundred bucks to what i'll be selling it for. anyone need a 80 gal 2 stage 20h.p. 200p.s.i. compressor?

[Mason]

anyone need a 80 gal 2 stage 20h.p. 200p.s.i. compressor?

Actually I'll be in the market soon.. Might be a tad bigger then I need (but not much).. But I'm betting I couldnt get much farther away from you and still be in the "lower 48".. Cost a ton to get it here... Is it 3 phase or single?

[bcrtops]

All gas will turn bad.. I'm hear to tell you that includes "hi test".. Now Oregon being the "green" state that it is we have weird gas. They oxygenate the gasoline (susposta burn hotter/cleaner) and they add a lot of "corn oil". You cant buy pump gas with out it in there. That said our biggest problem this time of year, is customers bikes with "fall" gas that has already turned. Almost every bike has 91-92 octane "premium" fuel in it. I would say our gas out here has a shelf life of less then 100 days. Sta Bil is a good product. We sell it and it works great.

Yes, some of the loggers are under the false illusion that the "Supreme" type gas has no alcohol, which is simply not true (in OR). It does have a little better shelf life than the "Regular", but any gas over 3 months old (stabil or not), should be dumped in your old pickup, rather than trying to run your chainsaw on it! Might be that you could get Av-gas or boat-gas without the alcohol, but not sure on that. That said, some motors will run pretty well on 1-2 yr. old gas (with the stabil), others not so well. Have a really old tiller (Tecumseh engine) that won't run on anything but very fresh gas -- probably wore out & lousy compression. Have a generator with same make engine that runs great on the old gas, as have tested it -- in fact gas in tank has been 2 yrs old without stabil, & it still ran -- but didn't smooth out until adding some fresh gas to the mix!. Always run carburetor dry via a gas shutoff valve when through using -- the main thing for storing any gas engine.

[mudbug77]

anyone need a 80 gal 2 stage 20h.p. 200p.s.i. compressor?

Actually I'll be in the market soon.. Might be a tad bigger then I need (but not much).. But I'm betting I couldnt get much farther away from you and still be in the "lower 48".. Cost a ton to get it here... Is it 3 phase or single?

think is's a 230volt 3 phase, tank is probably a 60 gal now that i cleaned it, just changed out a couple fittings this mornin as well as replaced the 5/8'' o.d. line from the pump to tank. i dunno if you'd want it just cause the shipping on it might be a bit much. must weigh 300-400 pounds. made by a company named dresser that from what i've found makes compessors for the U.S. navy as well as compressors and valving for use in the oil ind. does turn over smooth though and ya can hear it suckin in air and burpin it out just by cycling it by hand. i'd keep it but there's a gas compressor in my work van and the company pays for it's gas and parts. for the time being t's stuck in the back of my pickup truck cause i don't have a way to get it out untill i get the keg filled and invite some of the boys over.

[rollin thunder]

Those of us that live down here in the zoo are slightly ahead of the curve on generators and stocking non perishable supplies. +1 on the stabil.